Football briefs

SWILLING TO RETURN: Defensive end Pat Swilling will return to the Oakland Raiders following his one-year retirement, the team announced Saturday.

Swilling, 33, played for the Raiders during the 1995 and 1996 seasons and retired during training camp prior to last season."I'm excited to come back to the Raiders," Swilling said in a statement released by the team. "I've only heard positive things about the program, and I look forward to contributing to the team's success."

Raiders coach Jon Gruden, in his first year with the team, said he was pleased that the five-time Pro Bowler was returning.

Swilling, who posted double-digits sack totals in six of his 11 seasons in the NFL, is among the league's top five active sack leaders.

STEELERS TO CUT WOOLFORD: The Pittsburgh Steelers, who still don't have enough room under the salary cap for their nine unsigned draft picks, likely will release cornerback Donnell Woolford next week.

The move would free up Woolford's $1.15 million salary, or more than twice as much as the Steelers currently have available for their picks.

OAKLAND DRAFTEE DIES: Leon Bender, a Washington State defensive tackle who signed with Oakland this month after being drafted by the Raiders in the second round, was found dead Saturday in the bathroom of his agent's home in Marietta, Ga.

The cause of death was not immediately known. Police do not suspect foul play, said Cobb County police spokesman Robert Quigley. Bender was 22.